Furnace.



M. CURRY.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED 020.22.1911.

1 ,292,586 Patented J an. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- M. CURRY.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22, 1911.

1,292,586; Patented Jan. 28,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I 211 73 1 W1 '2 2/ A 1 I t 7 2.2 I 7'6 27 I 0 /6 'j,

I 7/ 5 6 73 74 73 75 s 2 7 S 243 7 J 2/ 5] nvewtoz MW MALCOLM CUR-RY, HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FURNACE.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed December 22, 1917. Serial No. 208,402.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MALCOLM CpnRY, a citizen .of the United States, and resident of Holyoke, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of which the following is a specificatlon.

This invention relates to improvements 1n furnaces and has for its principal object the- Another object of the invention is to provide the fire-box with a transparent panel or section movable opposite and away from an aperture in the wall of the fire-box, to permit the stoker to inspect the fuel bed when desired, through said panel and to permit said panel to be normally moved to a position in which it is protected from the direct heat of the fire.

Another important object is to rovide a fire-box with an observation opening and to provide means whereby said opening may be covered by either a transparent sheet, plate or panel, or by an opaque plate or panel of heat-resisting material such as iron or steel.

, A further important object of the invention is to provide means for simultaneously shifting asection .of the casing and protecting lining of a furnace to form an observation opening to permit inspection of the fuel bed, and to cover the opening thus formed with a plate, panel, or sheet of transparent material.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a transparent observation panel or section fora furnace casing, formed of blue glass or other suitable material adapted to eliminate the yellow rays to permit clear observation of the condition of the fuel bed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a furnace door equipped with one form of observation means, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, the parts being shown in their normal position in which the observation opening is closed by the opaque plate or section;

Fig. 2 an enlarged fragmentary front elevation, showing the transparent panel cov-v erin the observation opening;

F g. 3 a fragmentary vertical transverse sectlon, the parts being in the position shown In Fig. 1;

F1g. 4 a view similar to Fig. 3, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 an enlarged fragmentary rear elevat1o n, the parts being in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

While I prefer to employ the observation means in connection with the fire door of a furnace, as shown, it will be obvious that the observation means may be provided at any other suitable point in the furnace caslng.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 desig nates a furnace fire door of well-known construction, connected with the body portion of the casing 1 by the usualhinges 2, and provided with the usual damper 3 and handle 4. The door is provided with a perforated protecting lining 5 held thereto in spaced relation with the inner face of the door. The lining 5, except as hereinafter described, may be of the usual or any suitable construction and may be held to the door in any suitable manner.

To permit inspection of the fuel bed without opening the fire door, I preferably provide the door with an elongated rectangular opening 6, as shown, although it will be understood that the opening 6 may be of any other suitable shape. A substantially rectangular frame 7 is held to the outer side of the door 1 and extends about the edges of the opening 6, said frame 7 being preferably provided with flanges 8 and 9 fitting within the opening 6. The frame 7 is fixed to the door 1 in any suitable manner and serves as a support for the observation device and also to reinforce the door. It will be understood, however, that the parts of the observation device may be supported directly on the door 1, or in any other suitable manner, if desired.

A metallic plate 10 is pivotally held in the frame 7 by means of 'pins 11 extending through ears 12 formed on theside members of the frame adjacent the lower ends thereof, said pins extending into suitable sockets or journals in the side edges of the plate 10. The plate 10 normally closes the opening 6 in the fire door. A rectangular frame 13 is held to the lower edge of the plate 10 and extends outwardly substantially at a right angle with said plate, said frame 13 being preferably cast, or otherwise formed, 1ntegrally with the plate 10. sheet or plate 14 of transparent material is held in the frame '13. I prefer to employ a plate vof blue glass which may be lnserted 1n the frame from the outer edge thereof through a slot 27 and held in place by a cotter pm 28, or other suitable means, the inner and s1de edges of the glass plate being seated in suitable channels in the edges of the frame. The use of blue glass for the transparent panel permits a clear view of the condition of the fuel bed, as the blue glass eliminates the yellow rays from the fire and protects the eyes from the glare of the flames, thus permitting a clear view of the coals and enabling the stoker to readily detect thin spots 1n the fuel bed, or other conditions detrimental to the efficiency of the fire.

The protecting lining 5 is formed with an elongated rectangular opening. 15 opposite,

the opening 6 in door 3, normally closed b a pivoted lining section 16. The frame is formed with a pair of inwardly extendlng arms or brackets 17 preferably forming extensions of the flanges 9, and the movable section 16 of the lining is formed with a pair of arms or brackets 18 at opposite sides thereof adjacent its upper edge. The arms 18 extend forwardly between the arms 17 and are pivotally connected therewith by horizontal pivot pins or bolts 19 extending through the arms 17 adjacent their inner ends and passing through the arms 18 intermediate their ends and preferably adjacent to the movable section 16 of the protecting lining.

' The upper edges of the arms 18 are curved or shaped to form cam surfaces 20 engaging the curved or cam edges 21 of segmental plates or webs 22, cast integrally with, or otherwise held to the plate 10 and frame 13 at opposite sides thereof. The lower edge of the movable section 16 of the lining is formed with rearwardly extending enlargements or projections 23 to increase the weight of that portion of the section 16 which extends below the pivotal point of said section. It will be observed also that the pivotal point of the section 16 is above the middle thereof and that the lower portion of the section therefore overbalances the upper portion and tends to normally move the section to a vertical position to fill the opening 15 in the lining 5.

The frame 13 carrying the transparent plate 14 is provided with a suitable handle 24 to permit said frame and the opaque metal plate 10 to be readily rocked about the pivots 11 to cause either the plate 14 or plate 10 to register with the opening 6 in the door. When the frame 13 and plate 14 are swung upwardly the plate 10 moves inwardly and downwardly away from the opening 16, and the movable section 16 of the door lining is simultaneously swung upwardly away from said opening byfaction -of the cam edges'21 of plates 22w ch engage the cam edges 20 of arms 18 and depress said arms. The parts are preferably so shaped and proportioned that plate 10 extends below its pivotal point when the glass plate 14 is in register with opening 6 and the plates or cams 22 are at the rear of-the pivotal point 13, so that the parts will remain in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 until the handle 24 is again depressed. When the handle 24 is depressed it will be seen that the transparent plate 14 will be swung downwardly and outwardly) away from opening 6 to a position in which it will not be subjected to the heat of the combustion chamber, and that the opening 6 will be closed by the metal plate 10. It will be obvious that when the plate 10 is swung u wardly and outwardly the arms 18 Will free to swing upwardly and outwardly about the pivots 19, and that the movable section 16 of the door lining .Will be automatically shifted to close the openin 15 in-the lining 5 by reason of the over alancing weight of the lower portion of said'section. The weight of frame 13, plate 14, and cam plates 22, serves to hold the plate 10 in its raised position after the handle 24 is depressed. It will also be observed that when the plate 10 is in position to close opening 6 the forward ends of arms 18 engage the rear edges of cam plates 22 and serve to assist in holding plate 10 in raised position. If desired, the section 16 of the lining may be provided with a forwardly extending lug or projection-26 adjacent its upper edge, said projection being preferably provided with a beveledface, as shown, adapted to be engaged by theupper edge of plate 10 in case said movable liningsection should fail to swing downwardly when the plate 10 is swung upwardly as heretofore described. It will be obvious that, should the lining section 16 fail to swing downwardly as plate 10 is moved'upwardly, the upper edge of plate 10 will engage the projection 26 and rock the section 16 about its pivot, thus insuring movement of section 16 to its normal vertical position when the plate 10 is moved to closed position.

From the foregoing it will be observed that simple means has been provided whereby the condition of the fuel bed of a furnace may be observed without the necessity of opening the fire door, thus avoiding loss of heat and impairment of the 'efficiency of the fire due to frequent opening of the fire door for purposes of inspection, and also avoiding int may clearly see the fuel bed, since the blue glass observation panel filters out the yelow rays, eliminates the glare from the flames, and protects the eyes of the stoker from the intense heat of the combustion chamber. It will be seen also that the fire may be inspected without admitting a large influx ofcold' air into the combustion chamher. This is highly important, not only because the admission of cold air impairs the efficiency of the fire, but also because the admission of cold air causes the production of considerable smoke and soot in the combustion chamber, which results in obscuring the view of the fuel bed, making it almost impossible to detect the presence of thin spots therein or other conditions liable to impair the efliciency of the fire. The use of a transparent observation panel also enables the stoker to closely approach the fuel bed and carefully observe the condition thereof.

It will be observed also that a feature of importance lies in embodying the transparent-panel-door and the opaque-fire-resistant-door in a single rockable device pivoted on a horizontal axis extending along the lower edge of the peep-opening in the furnace wall, the two doors lying at approximately right angles to each other, so that when thetransparent door is in position to perform its function, the opaque door will be entirely out of line or register with the peep-opening and will therefore not be in a position to obscure a clear view of the fuel bed. This construction is not only simle and durable, but is further advantageous...

in that to shift the transparent door into position for use it is simply necessary for the furnace man to tilt the rockable device by manually lifting the transparent door, so that by a very simple and quick operation the attendant may frequently inspect the fuel bed. It will be seen also that the segmental side walls 22 which connect the ends of the door serve not only to brace the doors and thus provide a strong structure, but also.

to cut off the ingress of air not only during the shifting of the doors but also after they are shifted.

It will be seen also that a feature of importance lies in having bothdoors 10 and 13 'wide enough to strike and bear a ainst the rockable structure pivoted in said 0 ening on an axis extending. along one edge t ereof, said structure embodying a pair of doors connected together at the pivotal point, one

door being fire-resistant and opaque and the other door bein provided with a transparent panel, w ereby either door may be shifted to close the peep-opening and the other door be simultaneously shifted to a position out of alinement therewith.

' 2. The combination with a furnace whose wall is provided with a peep-opening, of a rockable structure pivoted in said openin on an axis extending along one edge thereo said structure embodying a pair of doors connected together at the pivotal point, one door being fire-resistant and opaque andthe other door bein provided with a transparent panel, w ereby either door may be shifted to close the peep-opening and the other door be simultaneously shifted to a position out of alinement therewith, the doors being wider than the peep-opening to permit their free edges to contact respectively with the inner and outer faces of the furnace wall along the ed e of the peepopening opposite the pivota oint.

3. The combination with a rnace whose wall is provided with a peep-opening, of a rockable structure pivoted in said opening on an axis extending along one edge thereof, said structure embodying a pair of doors connected together at the pivotal point one door being fire-resistant and opaque and the other door being provided with a transparent panel, wherebv either door may be shifted to close the peep-opening and the other door be simultaneously shifted to a position out of alinement therewith, the ends of said two doorsbeing connected by segother door being provided with a trans-- parent panel, whereby either door may be shifted to close the peep-opening and the other door be simultaneously shifted to a position out of alinement therewith, the corner formed by the juncture of the, two edges of the door at the pivotal oint being beveled off to insure a complete c osure of the peepopening along its pivotal edge in either position of the rockable device.

5. In combination with a furnace havin an opening through which the burning fue may be inspected, a rockable device pivotally mounted in the lower part of said opening and embed ing two plates lying su'b stantially at rig is angles to each other, one

of these plates being opaque and fire-resistant and the other being transparent, the fire-resistant plate lying inside of the furnace and the transparent plate lymg outside of the furnace, whereby by simply rocking said device on its pivot eitherone of sald plates may be brought into pos1t1on to cover this opening, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of a furnace hav ng a metallic casing and an inner protectlng lining for said casing, and means whereby adjacent portions of said casing and l n ng may be simultaneously shifted to ermlt 1nspection of the combustion cham or when the fire door of the furnace is closed.

7. The combination of a furnace having a metallic casing and an inner protecting lining for said casing, means whereby adjacent portions of said casing and limng may be shifted to permit inspection of the fuel bed, and a sheet of transparent material held to the casing exteriorly thereof and adapted to extend over the opening formed by shifting said portions of the easing and lining to permit inspection of the fuel bed without admitting cold air to the combustion chamber.

8. The combination of a furnace having a metallic casing,.an inner protecting lining for said casing, means whereby adjacent portions of said casing and linin may be simultaneously shifted to permit inspection of the combustion chamber, a sheet of transparent material, and means for shiftably supporting said sheet of transparent material on the casing to adapt said-transparent sheet to be moved to cover the observation opening formed by shifting said sections of the casing and lining.

9. The combination of a furnace having a metallic casing," an inner protecting lining for the casing, said casing and lining being provided with oppositely disposed shiftable portions, a shiftable frame held to the easing, a sheet of transparent material held in sald frame, and means whereby said frame and the shiftable portions of the casing and lining may .be simultaneously moved to form an observation opening through said casing and lining closed by said sheet of transparent material.

. 10. The combination of a furnace having a metallic casing, an inner protecting lining for the casing, said casing and lining being provided with oppositely disposed shiftable portions, a shiftable frame held to the easing, a sheet of transparent material held in naeaaee' said frame, means whereby said frame and the shiftable portion of the casing may be moved to cover an observation opening in the casing with said shiftable portion of the casin and said sheet of transparent material ternately, and means controlled by the movement of said frame and shiftable portion of the casing for moving said shiftable portion of the lining.

11. The combination of a furnace having a metallic casing, an imier protecting lining for the casing, said casing and lining being provided with oppositely disposed shiftable portions, a shiftable frame held to the easmg exteriorly thereof, a plate of blue glass held in said frame, and means whereby said frame and the shiftable portions of the easing and lining may be simultaneously moved to form an observation window through which the fuel bed may be inspected. 12. A metallic fire door fora furnace having an observation opening therein, an inner protecting lining for the door having a shiftable portion normally held opposite said opening, a shiftable metal plate held to the door and normally closin said. observation 0 emng, and means where y said plate and t e shiftable portion of the lining may be moved to permlt inspection of the fuel bed through said opening.

' 13. A metallic fire door for a furnace having an observation opening therein, an inner protecting lining for the door having a shlftable portion normally held opposite said opening, a shiftable metal plate held to the door and normally closing said observation opening, and means controlled by shifting said metal plate to cover and uncover said opening for simultaneously moving said shiftable portion of the lining.

14. Ametallic fire door for a furnace having an opening therein through which the fuel bed may be inspected, an inner protecting lining for the door having a shiftable portion opposite said opening, a metal plate pivotally held to the door adapted to normally close said opening, a frame mounted to move with said metal late, a sheet of glass held in said frame a apted to cover said opening when the metal plate is moved to uncover'theppening, and means for automatically movlng said shiftable portion of the lining out of register with said opening when the glass sheet is moved to cover the opening.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

MALCOLM CURRY. 

